ASL-LEX: mapping the American Sign Language lexicon

ASL-LEX is a lexical database that catalogues information about signs in American Sign Language. It currently includes information about frequency (how often signs are used in everyday conversation), iconicity (how much signs look like what they mean), and phonology (which handshapes, locations, movements etc. are used). Many deaf children in the US unfortunately do not know ASL. Teachers can use ASL-LEX to support vocabulary in deaf and students who are learning ASL (e.g., to develop vocabulary lessons that prioritize commonly used signs). Students can also look up signs based on their sign form, without knowing a sign’s English translation, and begin to learn about linguistic patterns in the forms of signs. It can also be used by ASL researchers to develop experiments. Learn more, and browse an interactive visualization of the ASL lexicon!